Hair dryer case with collapsible hose and cap storage means



June 4, 1968 5. M. PONCZEK 3,386,184

HAIR DRYER CASE WITIH COLLAPSIBLE HOSE AND CAP STORAGE MEANS Filed Aug.8. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l I/I) III III/III I/I/I/I/I/Ir 26315- aa-i5 Fsafe! a (R 59 57 a3 4625 31 24 2 June 4, 1968 e. M. PONCZEK 3,

HAIR DRYER CASE WITH COLLAPSIBLE HOSE AND CAP STORAGE MEANS Filed Aug.8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,386,184 HAIR DRYERCASE WETH COLLAPSHELE HOSE AND CAP STORAGE MEANS George M. Ponczek,Chicago, 111., assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 571,078 4 Claims.(Cl. 34-99) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compact portable hair dryercase having a pair of abutting case halves one of which receives acombination motor, blower, and heater unit with a collapsible hosestored therein and the other of which provides storage for a power cordand a hat attachable to said hose.

This invention relates to a hair dryer, and more particularly, to a lowcost and portable hair dryer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a low cost, compact andportable hair dryer which contains all the necessary apparatus forperforming a hair drying operation.

The instant invention uses the invention described and claimed inco-pending patent application Ser No. 466,- 307 filed June 23, 1965, andnow Patent No. 3,261,107 by Ponczek et al. and assigned to the sameassignee as the instant patent application. The Ponczek et al. patentapplication discloses a compact hair dryer comprising a tubular casingor housing containing a motor-blowerheater unit and having a lengthwiseexpansible and collapsible air hose stored in a hose storage compartmentformed at one end of the tubular casing or housing. Briefly, in theinstant invention the Ponczek et al. device is housed in a simulatedleather carrying case which has two rectangular shaped boxes which closeon each other. The Ponczek et al. device is positioned in the bottombox, and the top box is removably hinged to the bottom one to provide astorage compartment for the cap and electric cord of the hair dryer. Thehose is stored in the outlet end of the tubular housing of themotor-blowerheater unit of the hair dryer and a closure flap or door atthe corresponding end of the bottom box affords access to the storedhose. In this manner the simulated leather carrying case provides a lowcost, compact and portable hair dryer unit which contains all the partsnecessary for performing a hair drying operation.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to its organization and operation, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings; in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dryer showing a preferred form ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the airdryer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hair dryer with the carrying case beingin open position;

FIG. 4 is a broken away end elevation view when viewed from the righthand end of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view when viewed from the left hand end ofFIGS. 1 and 2 and showing the end closure flap for the bottom half ofthe carrying case in open position.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, shown therein is a hairdryer comprising a carrying case having two generally rectangular andelongated top and bottom boxes 11 and 12 respectively. These two boxesare hinged 3,386,184 Patented June 4, 1968 together for opening andclosing movement with respect to each other. The top box 11 is adaptedto have a collapsible hair dryer cap 13 and flexible electricalextension cord 14 stored therein. The two boxes 11 and 12 are hin cdtogether by hinge means 15. They are latched closed together by latchmeans 16. The hinge means 15 are of the type which is well known in theart and lengthwise movement of the two boxes with respect to each otherwill cause separation of the hinge pin 17 and its hinge element 18 whichare connected to the box 11 from the hinge element 19 which is connectedto the box 12.

The bottom box 12 contains a housed motor-blowerheater unit and storedhose device of the type disclosed in the previously mentioned Ponczek eta1. patent application. The motor, blower, heater, and stored hosethereof are indicated by the reference numerals 261-23 respectively. Thecomponents ZlB-ZS are contained within a tubular housing 24. The lefthand end of housing 24 is provided with a hose storage compartment 25for collapsing the expansible hose 23 therein for storage of the hose inthe tubular member 24. The top of tubular member 24 is provided with acontrol switch finger operating knob 26 and a pair of electricalterminal pins 27 for purpose of connecting the electric cord 14 thereto.The not shown switch of the knob 26 and the terminal mounting board andother detailed components of the pins 27 are actually contained in aprotruding switch housing portion 28 of the tubular member 24. Oppositeends of the tube 24 are open. The right hand end of tube 24 comprisesits air inlet end, and the left hand end of tube 24 comprises its airoutlet end.

Opposite ends of the hose 23 have annular fittings 29 and 30 connectedthereto. The hose 23 is constructed so that it may be collapsed andexpanded within the range of from several inches to several feet. Theinner end of hose 23 is connected to the left hand air outlet end oftube 24 by retaining the right hand hose fitting 29 captive within thehose storage compartment 25. Opposite ends of the hose storagecompartment are defined by internal beads 31 and 32 formed at oppositeends of compartment 25. The fitting 29 can slide back and forth withinthe compartment 25 between the limits defined by the spaced beads 31 and32. When the hose 23 is stored in compartment 25 the fitting 29 willbottom against the inner bead 31. When hose 23 is withdrawn fromcompartment 25 for removable connection to the hair dryer cap 13 thefitting 29 will bottom on the outer bead 32. The outer fitting 3i can beremovably connected to the not shown air inlet opening of the hair dryercap 13 by virtue of latch means 33 formed on the outer end of fitting3!). The left end of tube 24 and the fitting 30 have cooperative meansformed thereon for retaining the hose 23 removably stored in thecompartment 25. Such means comprises an internal slotted ring 34 on theleft hand end of tube 24 and spaced lugs 35 formed on the right hand endof fitting 30. After the hose 23 is stuffed into the compartment 25 thelugs 35 can be passed through the slots 36 in the ring 34. When the lugs35 are located beyond the ring 34, if the fitting is given a partialturn, the lugs 35 will catch on the ring 34 to retain the collapsed hose23 removably stored in compartment 25. For withdrawal of hose 23 thefitting is rotated until lugs 35 are aligned with slots 36 after whichthe fitting 30 can be disengaged from the outer end of tube 24 towithdraw the hose 23. The fitting 3b is preferably constructed fromplastic material which can be deformed by finger pressure so as torelease the latches 33 from the not shown air inlet opening formed inthe hair dryer cap 13. The projecting portion 37 on fitting 30 locatedbetween the latches 33 and the lugs 35 is a finger pressure lug forpurposes of squeezing or deforming the fitting 3t] slightly so as todisengage it from the hair dryer cap.

As will be clear from a consideration of the detailed description foundin the Ponczek et a1. patent application, the tube 24 is actually splitlengthwise thereof into semicylindrical housing sections. The internalcomponents 2tl' 23 are preassembled in one of the housing sections andthen the motor-blower-heater and hose unit is completed by closing theone housing section with the other housing section. The two housingsections are retained closed on each other by two end fittings therefor38 and 359. These tWo end fittings 38 and 39 also comprise the means forretaining the motor-blower-heater unit with its hose storage compartment25 mounted in the bottom box 12 of the portable carrying case. Theopposite ends of tube 24 have beads or shoulders 49 and 41 formedthereon. The fittings 38 and 39 are slipped about the opposite ends ofthe tube 24 and butted up against the beads 46 and 41 respectively toretain the two sections of the tube 24 closed on each other. The righthand end fitting 38 is provided with a pair of integral top and bottommounting lugs 42. These lugs 42 are fastened to the top and bottom ofthe box 12 by means such as screws 43.

By viewing PEG. 4 it will be seen that the two boxes 11 and 12 have thecross sectional shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The base portions ofthe isosceles trapezoidal shape are open and face each other. Thefitting 39 also has an outer isosceles trapezoidal shape, see FIG. 5. Itis provided with a central annular ring 44 which receives the left handend of the tube 24 therein. The ring 44 and the outer peripheral portionof the fittin 39 are interconnected by an integral grill work 45. Thefitting 39 is also provided with top and bottom mounting lugs 46 forconnection of the fitting 39 to the top and bottom of the base box 12 bymeans such as screws 43. The top of the carrying case is provided with acarrying handle 47 and the bottom of the carrying case is provided withrubber or the like support pads 48. The bottom screws 43 pass throughthe bumpers 48 and have their heads embedded therein. The bottom screws43 of course also pass through aligned apertures formed in the bottomsurface of the simulated leather bottom box 12. The bottom of the box 11is open so as to afford access to the cap 13 and cord 14 stored therein.The top of the box 12 is also open to afford access to the switchcontrol 26 and the terminal 27. The opening in the top of bottom box 12is indicated by reference numeral 49. Opening 49 is defined by aninturned flange portion Sit on the top of box 12. The opening 49 isactually closed by a decorative metallic cover plate 51. Plate 51 has anopening 52 formed therein which conforms to the contour of the switchhousing 28. The top screws 43 extend through alignedopenings formed inthe plate 51 and the flange portion 50 into the top lugs 42 and 46 onthe end fittings 38 and 39 resp ctively.

The end of the box 12 which corresponds to the vair inlet end of tube 24is provided with air inlet openings 53. A metal screen or the like 54 isdisposed between the openings 53 and the rotating air blower 21. Theother end of bottom box 12 is open and provided with a hinged door 55.The door 55 comprises an end flap which is connected at its top to theleft hand top edge of box 12. The boxes '11 and 12 have their side wallsconnected together by well known expedients such as stitching. The endflap 55 has an integral portion 56 connected to its top edge whichcomprises its hinge connection to the top of the left hand end of box12. When the door 55 is hinged down to its closed position it isretained closed by two elements 57 and 58 respectively connected to thedoor 55 and underside of box 12. The elements 57 and 58 comprisereleasable snap fastening means for retaining the flap 55 closed. All ofthe latch means 57, 58 and 16, of course, are finger operated. The latchelement 57 is connected to the bottom edge of the door 55 by a flexiblestrap so that the latch element 57 will reach the latch element 58.

The cap 13 is actually constructed from plastic sheet material in amanner which is well known in the art so that it can be collapsed orbunched up into a very small volume. Actually, the storage compartmentin the box 11 for the cap 13 and cord 14 has room to spare so as toreceive still other devices useful in drying the hair such as a few haircurlers which, however, are not illustrated in the drawings. In use ofthe hair dryer the carrying case may be rested on a table top or thelike on its bumpers 48. However, the top box 11 can also be separatedfrom the bottom box 12 and the bottom box 12 carried off the shoulder ofthe hair dryer user. For this purpose an eyelet 6th is connected to theleft hand end of the plate 51. A cord or shoulder strap or the like canbe threaded through the eyelet 60 so as to sling the bottom box 12 andits contained motor-blower-heater unit off the shoulder of the hairdryer user. The hose 23 contained within the bottom box 12 of coursewill be withdrawn therefrom and connected up to the hair dryer cap 13which will be positioned on the hair dryer users head. The cord 14 willbe unraveled and connected at one end to the terminal pins 27 and at theother end to an electrical wall socket or the like. The cord 14 isprovided with a sufficient length to give the hair dryer user freedom ofmovement to perform other tasks while the motorblower-heate-r unit isoperating to blow drying air through the expanded hose 23 into the hairdryer cap positioned on the hair dryer users head. The hose 23 of courseis withdrawn from the bottom box 12 by unlatching the end flap or door55 and then releasing the fitting 30 from the left hand end of the hosestorage compartment 25 and connecting the fitting 39 to the air inletopening of the hair dryer cap 13. It will now be seen that the inventionprovides a low cost, compact and portable hair dryer which is completelyself-contained in that it contains all the necessary components orapparatus for performing a total hair drying operation.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention, andtherefore, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a hair dryer comprising a tubular housing containing amotor-blower-heater unit, one end of said housing having an air inletformed therein and the other end of said housing having an air outletformed therein; and a hose storage compartment formed at said other endand a lengthwise expansible and collapsible hose stored in saidcompartment, the inner end of said hose being connected to said outletend and the outer end of said hose being adapted for removableconnection to a hair dryer cap, and a control switch on said housing,the improvements of a carrying case for said hair dryer, said carryingcase comprising two elongated box shaped cas halves which are adapted tobe opened and closed on each other, said housing being mounted in one ofsaid halves, the end of said one half corresponding to said housinginlet end having an air inlet opening formed therein, the other end ofsaid one half having an opening formed therein for withdrawal of saidhose from said hose storage compartment, a hair dryer cap and anelectric extension cord stored in the other casing half, the outer endof said hose connecting to said hair dryer cap whereby said hose in theexpanded and withdrawn position interconnects said blower within saidcase to supply heated air to said hat on the head of a user, the twofacing sides of said case halves having openings formed therein toafford access to the cap and cord stored in said other case half andsaid control switch.

2. In a hair dryer as in claim 1, a cord connecting terminal on saidhousing adjacent said control switch,

said last mentioned opening in said one casing half also affordingaccess to said terminal for connection of one end of said other casehalf stored cord to said terminal, the bottom of said one case halfcomprising the base of said carrying case, said other case half beingsuperposed on said one case half, the outside of the bottom of saidother case half comprising the top of said carrying case, a carryinghandle on said top, and a door at said other end of said one case halffor closing said opening formed therein and for withdrawal of said hose.

3. Ina hair dryer as in claim 2, said outer hose end and the outer endof said hose storage compartment having cooperative means formed thereonfor releasably locking said hose stored in said hose storagecompartment, the inner end of said hose and opposite ends of saidstorage compartment having cooperative means formed thereon forpermitting substantial movement of the inner end of said hose inopposite directions within said hose storage compartment, said carryingcase being constructed from simulated leather-like material, said doorcomprising a hinged end flap on said one case half, said case halvesbeing removably hinged to each other for complete separation from eachother, and two releasable latches, one of said latches latching saidcase halves closed on each other and the other latch latching said flapclosed on said one case half other end opening.

4. In a hair dryer as in claim 3, a pair of annular fittings in said onecase half at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of top and bottom lugsformed on said fittings, opposite ends of said tubular housing beingmounted in said fittings, shoulders at opposite ends of said housingabutting said fittings, screws extending through said simulated materialinto said lugs for retaining said housing in said one case half, aprotective screen in said one case half located between thecorresponding air inlet ends of said housing and one case half, and ametal plate for closing the opening in the upper facing side of said onecase half, said metal plate having an opening formed therein inregistration with said control switch and terminal, the top lug screwsconnecting said plate to said top lugs, and rubber cushions mounted onthe underside of the base of said carrying case, the bottom lug screwsbeing embedded in said cushions, and an eyelet connected to said plate,said eyelet being adapted to receive a support strap for supporting saidone case half off a body portion of the hair dryer user.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,915 9/1950 Murphy 34-992,534,122 12/1950 Ham-31a 15-323 2,573,091 10/1951 Brown 15-3233,110,922 11/1963 Senne 15-315 3,238,639 3/1966 Descarries 34-993,261,107 7/1966 Ponczek et al 34-99 3,316,656 5/1967 Wahl 34-99 FOREIGNPATENTS 669,893 4/195'2 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. A. D. HERRMANN, AssistantExaminer.

